Time comes for all, even iconic buildings like the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, and though the city is searching for solutions to preserve and upgrade the aging arena, there has already been one casualty.
In 2022, two massive granite panels bearing the names of local military members who lost their lives in World War II and the Korean War were put away in storage. The infrastructure holding the walls in place had weakened, creating a serious safety risk and a need for repairs.
Enter Portland’s Digital Veterans Memorial — an effort to make sure no one is left behind or forgotten. On this website you’ll find a graphic representation of the now-unavailable panels, listing hundreds of names. Beyond that, you’ll find veterans’ biographies, photographs, and history stretching all the way back to 1898.
Anyone who knows a local veteran’s story that should be shared is invited to contribute to the program. The form takes approx. 15-30 minutes to complete, but doing so can help preserve the knowledge of their sacrifice for much longer. City staff will also contact you before making your submission public.
